Wolverine TV podcast: Predictions on Michigan, Big Ten division winners, surprise teams and more before media days
On this episode of TheWolverine.com podcast, Clayton Sayfie and Anthony Broome give predictions on the Big Ten with media days looming. Teams and reporters will assemble next week in Indianapolis (July 26-27) ahead of fall camps beginning across the conference.
We discuss who the media will pick to win the Big Ten and each division, before giving our own predictions on the East and West. Both hosts have Michigan winning the East but disagree on who will come out on top on the other side of the league. There’s also a surprise team to watch in the latter division.
“[The Cleveland.com media poll] has been right three out of the last 12 years on the Big Ten champion,” Sayfie pointed out when discussing who the media will pick. “Just want to point that out. They picked Ohio State last year as a unanimous pick for Big Ten champ. I think it was the first time in a while that they had a unanimous pick. Obviously, that didn’t happen — they were close.
“I’d lean toward them taking Michigan. I wouldn’t put it past them to give it to Ohio State, but I just feel like two in a row now for Michigan that it could do in their favor. And again, not that it really matters at all, and if you’re U-M you probably want more of a chip on your shoulder anyway.”
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Broome agrees that it will be U-M, but not unanimous like it was for the Buckeyes last season.
“I do think it’ll be some sort of split but I do think it will be Michigan when that poll comes out,” Broome added. “But I could see it being — I don’t know how many people they poll — but Michigan slightly ahead. You could make arguments for both.
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“For us, we are, of course, slightly biased because this is the site we work for, this is the team we cover, all of that. But I feel like the perception of this Ohio State team is shaped by what recruiting rankings say and what NFL Draft analysts say, in terms of these prospect list.
“In terms of what’s happened on the field, Michigan brings back really most of … I went back and watched that Ohio State game from 2021 recently, and U-M really does bring back most of their contributors from that game, it feels like. U-M brings back most of their contributors from the game against Ohio State last year, too. And Ohio State does, too. But I feel like Michigan is better where it counts. The things I value, the things it takes to win the Big Ten — even when it feels like Ohio State is running through everyone — they have been able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
“The reason I would still pick Michigan is that I think they are better suited to do that on both sides of the ball, compared to what Ohio State brings back. That’s regardless of what recruiting rankings or SP+ says, what NFL Draft watch boards say, what PFF says.”
Watch or listen to the full Michigan podcast below.
